Cards and devices with magnetic emulators with zoning control and advanced interiors

ABSTRACT

A payment card (e.g., credit and/or debit card) is provided with a magnetic emulator operable to act as a magnetic stripe read-head detector and a data transmitter. A multiple layer flexible PCB may be fabricated to include multiple magnetic emulators. An emulator may include a coil that includes magnetic, ferromagnetic, or ferromagnetic, material in the coil&#39;s interior. Coils may be associated with zones. As a read-head is detected to move from zone-to-zone, coils may be activated to transmit information in those zones.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Nos. 61/016,491 filed on Dec. 24, 2007, 61/026,846 filed onFeb. 7, 2008, 61/027,807 filed on Feb. 11, 2008, 61/081,003 filed onJul. 15, 2008, 61/086,239 filed on Aug. 5, 2008, 61/090,423 filed onAug. 20, 2008, 61/097,401 filed Sep. 16, 2008, 61/112,766 filed on Nov.9, 2008, 61/117,186 filed on Nov. 23, 2008, 61/119,366 filed on Dec. 2,2008, and 61/120,813 filed on Dec. 8, 2008, all of which are herebyincorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to magnetic cards and payment systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A card is provided, such as a credit card or security card, that maytransmit information to a magnetic stripe reader via a magneticemulator. The magnetic emulator may be, for example, a circuit thatemits electromagnetic fields operable to electrically couple with aread-head of a magnetic stripe reader such that data may be transmittedfrom the circuit to the magnetic stripe reader. The emulator may beoperated serially such that information is transmitted serially to amagnetic stripe reader. Alternatively, for example, portions of amagnetic emulator may emit different electromagnetic fields at aparticular instance such that the emulator is operated to providephysically parallel, instantaneous data. Alternatively still, a magneticmedium may be provided and a circuit may be provided to change themagnetic properties of the magnetic medium such that a magnetic stripereader is operable to read information written on the magnetic medium.

A processor may be provided on a card, or other device, that controls amagnetic emulator. The processor may be configured to operate theemulator such that the emulator transmits serial or parallelinformation. Particularly, the processor may decouple portions of anemulator from one another such that different portions of the emulatormay transmit different information (e.g., transmit data in a paralleloperation). The processor may couple portions of an emulator together(or drive the portions together) such that all portions of the emulatortransmits the same information (e.g., transmit data in a serialoperation). Alternatively, the processor may drive a portion of theemulator to transmit data using one method (e.g., serially) while theprocessor drives another portion of the emulator using a differentmethod (e.g., in parallel).

The processor may drive an emulator through a switching circuit. Theswitching circuit may control the direction and magnitude of currentthat flows through at least a portion of an emulator such that theswitching circuit controls the direction and magnitude of theelectromagnetic field created by at least that portion of the emulator.An electromagnetic field may be generated by the emulator such that theemulator is operable to electrically couple with a read-head from amagnetic stripe reader without making physical contact with theread-head. Particularly, for example, an emulator that is driven withincreased current can be operable to couple with the read-head of amagnetic stripe reader even when placed outside and within the proximityof (e.g., 0.25 inches or more) the read-head.

A processor may detect, for example, the presence of a read-head of amagnetic stripe reader by receiving signals from a magnetic stripereader detector and, in response, the processor may drive a magneticemulator in a manner that allows the emulator to couple with themagnetic stripe reader. More than one emulator may be provided on a cardor other device and a processor may drive such emulators in a variety ofdifferent manners.

A circuit may be provided on a credit card that is operable to receivedata from a device, such as a magnetic stripe. In this manner, a card,or other device, may communicate bi-directionally with a device.

An emulator may communicate with a magnetic stripe reader outside of,for example, the housing of a magnetic stripe reader. Accordingly, forexample, the emulator may be provided in devices other than cards sizedto fit inside of the reading area of a magnetic stripe reader. In otherwords, for example, the emulator may be located in a device that isthicker than a card—yet the emulator can still communicate with one ormore read-heads located in a magnetic stripe reader. Such a device maybe, for example, a security token, a wireless communications device, alaptop, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a physical lock key to ahouse and/or car, or any other device.

Dynamic information may be provided by a processor located on the card,or other device, and communicated through a magnetic emulator. Suchdynamic information may, for example, change based on time. For example,the dynamic information may be periodically encrypted differently. Oneor more displays may be located on a card, or other device, such thatthe dynamic information may be displayed to a user through the display.Buttons may be provided to accept input from a user to, for example,control the operation of the card or other device.

Dynamic information may include, for example, a dynamic number that isused as, or part of, a number for a credit card number, debit cardnumber, payment card number, and/or payment verification code. Dynamicinformation may also include, for example, a student identificationnumber or medical identification number. Dynamic information may also,for example, include alphanumeric information such that a dynamicaccount name is provided.

Magnetic emulation circuits may be provided that generateelectromagnetic fields. The emulation circuits may have active regionsoperable to be read by a read-head of a magnetic stripe reader. Theemulation circuits may also have, for example, non-active regions thatare not operable to be read by a read-head of a magnetic stripe reader.Multiple emulation circuits may be provided on different layers suchthat the active regions of multiple emulation circuits provide aread-head of a magnetic stripe reader continuous visibility to activeregions while a card is swiped. A coil may include return paths that maybe able to, for example, transmit information to a read-head but maycommunicate information using electromagnetic fields in an oppositedirection than the primary paths (e.g., active regions) of a coil suchthat a reader may not be able discern a set of when the reader picks uppart of the information from a return path followed by part of theinformation from a primary path (or vice versa).

Magnetic emulation circuits may extend across multiple tracks. However,the areas of such magnetic emulation circuits that extended to undesiredtracks may be configured to be invisible to the read-heads for thosetracks. For example, a magnetic emulator may produce magnetic fieldsthat are not oriented properly to be picked up by unintendedread-head(s) but that are oriented properly to be picked up by intendedread-head(s).

Read-head detectors may be provided to determine, for example, when acard is being swiped and/or when a read-head is located over aparticular portion of a card (e.g., a magnetic emulation circuit). Amagnetic emulation circuit may be provided as, for example, a coil.Portions of such a coil may be utilized to detect a read-head while inother portions of the coil may be utilized to communicate informationelectromagnetically to a read-head. Accordingly, a coil may be utilizedto detect a read-head and, after a read-head is detected, the coil maybe utilized to, for example, serially transmit information to a magneticstripe reader.

A read-head detector, or an array of read-head detectors, may be ableto, for example, determine the type of reader that the card enteredinto. For example, a read-head detector array may determine, forexample, when a motorized reader was utilized, an insertion reader wasutilized, or a user-swipe reader was utilized. Such information may bestored and communicated to a remote storage device (e.g., a remotedatabase). This stored information may be utilized to combat, forexample, card cloning. For example, if a particular number of cards(e.g., 10 more) that made consecutive purchases from a machine (e.g., anATM) detected more than one reader, then, for example, the system maymake an autonomous determination that an illegal cloning device waslocated on front of that ATM machine. If, for example, multiple cardsuse a restaurant point-of-sale terminal and determine that multiplereaders were used then, for example, a computer can make an autonomousdetermination that cloning may have occurred at the restaurant.

Cards may be swiped through the same reader multiple times for a numberof reasons (e.g., mis-swipes). However, over a number of cards (e.g.,100), instances of cloning may become apparent. Additionally, forexample, information about swipes that happened outside of a transaction(e.g., the period from which the card is active after an appropriateunlocking code is entered) may be transmitted to detect instances wherea magnetic emulator was turned ON and read by a reader, but notransaction was received by a processing/authorization facility. Suchinformation may be utilized to, for example, provide an alert that theuser may have encountered, and tried to use, a fake ATM machine.

Multiple magnetic emulators may be coupled in series. Multiple magneticemulators, or arrays of magnetic emulators, may be controlledindependently. Emulators may be assigned zones and may be utilized tocommunicate information on a zone-by-zone basis. In doing so, forexample, emulators that include coils with return paths may place thosereturn paths in other zones. Accordingly, the primary paths for anemulator may be included in a zone to communicate information when thatzone is activated. When other zones are activates, the return paths ofthe emulator may not interfere with the primary paths of other emulatorsthat are attempting to communicate information. Read-head detectors maybe utilized, for example, to provide information to a processor so thatthe processor may make a determination as to what zone, or zones, shouldbe activated to communicate information at any given time.

Magnetic emulators, such as magnetic emulators that include coils, maybe fabricated on multiple layers of either flexible or rigid printedcircuit board. Accordingly, a coil may be fabricated over multiplelayers. Materials may be placed in the interior of these coils to assistthe coil in communicating information to a read-head. For example, twoPCB layers may be utilized. The top layer may be utilized for one set ofpaths (e.g., primary paths) and the bottom layer may be utilize foranother set of paths (e.g., return paths).

A material may be sandwiched between the two layers to assist inreducing the effect of the electromagnetic fields from one set of coilsegments on the side of the material opposite that set of coil segments.Such an interior material may be insulated such that the material doesnot short the coil segments. Additionally, such an interior material maybe chosen, for example, such that the material does not saturate whenthe coil is conducting current. The coil and material may run, forexample, along the location of a track of magnetic data for a paymentcard.

A material may be placed and/or printed on a PCB layer and sandwichedbetween two other PCB layers. These two other layers may each includecoil segments and vias. The middle layer may also include vias such thatthe material is fabricated to be located in the center of the coil. Thematerial may take a cylindrical, rectangular, square, or any type ofshape. Four layers may also be utilized, where the coil segments areprinted on a surface of the exterior layers and one or more materialsare printed and/or placed on/between the interior layers. A material maybe a magnetic material, ferromagnetic material, ferrimagnetic material,or any type of material. For example, copper may be printed on a PCBlayer and plated with a material (e.g., nickel, iron, chrome, tin, gold,platinum, cobalt, zinc, alloys). A material, for example, may have arelative permeability multiple times greater than the permeability of avacuum. A material, for example, may have a permeability of 2 to 25,000N/A^2. A material may include, for example, a permalloy, iron, steel,ferrite, nickel or any other material. A material may be an alloy suchas a nickel-iron alloy. Such a nickel-iron alloy may include, forexample, nickel (e.g., 75-85%), iron, copper, molybdenum and may beplaced through one or more annealing processes. Annealing may occurbefore and/or after the material is placed/printed on a layer ofmaterial (e.g., a PCB layer or other layer). A similar and/or differentmaterial may be placed either above and/or below a portion, or theentire, set of paths on a layer for a coil. Accordingly, for example, amaterial may be placed in the interior of a coil as well as along a sideof the coil.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The principles and advantages of the present invention can be moreclearly understood from the following detailed description considered inconjunction with the following drawings, in which the same referencenumerals denote the same structural elements throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of cards constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of cards constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a card constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a card and a reader constructed inaccordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a card and a reader constructed inaccordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a circuit constructed in accordance withthe principles of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a circuit constructed in accordance withthe principles of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an illustration of a circuit constructed in accordance withthe principles of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an illustration of a circuit constructed in accordance withthe principles of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is an illustration of a circuit constructed in accordance withthe principles of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is an illustration of a circuit constructed in accordance withthe principles of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is an illustration of a circuit constructed in accordance withthe principles of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is an illustration of a card constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention; and

FIG. 14 is an illustration of a card constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is an illustration of a card constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is an illustration of a card constructed in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention; and

FIG. 17 is an illustration of a device constructed in accordance withthe principles of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows card 100 that includes printed information 111 and 120,displays 112 and 113, and buttons 130-134. Card 100 may be, for example,a payment card such as a credit card, debit card, and/or gift card orany other type of card (e.g., security access or identification card).Payment information, such as a credit/debit card number may be providedas static information 111, dynamic information 112 and/or 113, or anycombination thereof.

For example, a particular number of digits of a credit card number(e.g., the last 3 digits) may be provided as dynamic information. Suchdynamic information may be changed periodically (e.g., once every hour).Information may be changed via, for example, encryption. Software may beprovided at, for example, the payment verification server that verifiesthe dynamic information for each period of time such that a payment canbe validated and processed for a particular user. A user may beidentified using, for example, static information that is used to form acredit card number or other static information (e.g., information 120).Additionally, identification information may be derived (e.g., embedded)in dynamic information. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate thata credit card number may have, for example, a length of 15 or 16 digits.A credit card number may also have a length of up to 19 digits. Averification code may be used with some payment systems and such averification code may be provided statically on the card or may beprovided as dynamic information. Such a verification code may beprovided on a second display located on, for example, the front or rearsurface of card 100. Alternatively, a verification code may be displayedon the same display as other dynamic information (e.g., dynamicinformation 112). A display may be, for example, a flexible electronicink display. Such a flexible electronic ink display may, for example,utilize power to change displayed information, but may not utilize powerto display information after the information is changed.

Card 150 may be provided. Card 150 may include static magnetic stripetracks 153 and 152. Magnetic emulator 151 may be included and may beoperable to electrically couple with a read-head of a magnetic stripereader. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a read-headhousing of a magnetic stripe reader may be provided with one, two, orthree active read-heads that are operable to each couple with a separatemagnetic track of information. A reader may also have more than oneread-head housing and each read-head housing may be provided with one,two, or three active read-heads that are operable to each couple with aseparate magnetic track of information. Such read-head housings may beprovided different surfaces of a magnetic stripe reader. For example,the read-head housings may be provided on opposite walls of a troughsized to accept payment cards. Accordingly, the devices on the oppositesides of the trough may be able to read a credit card regardless of thedirection that the credit card was swiped.

A magnetic emulator may be provided and may be positioned on card 150such that when card 150 is swiped through a credit card reader, themagnetic emulator passes underneath, or in the proximity of, a read-headfor a particular magnetic track. An emulator may be large enough tosimultaneously pass beneath, or in the proximity of, multipleread-heads. Information may be transmitted, for example, serially to oneor more read-heads. Information from different tracks of data may alsobe transmitted serially and the magnetic stripe reader may determine thedifferent data received by utilize the starting and/or ending sentinelsthat define the information for each track. A magnetic emulator may alsotransmit a string of leading and/or ending zeros such that a magneticreader may utilize such a string of zeros to provide self-clocking. Indoing so, for example, information may be transmitted serially at highspeeds to a magnetic stripe reader. For example, credit card informationmay be transmitted to a magnetic stripe reader at speeds up to, andgreater than, 30 kHz).

Different emulators may be provided, and positioned, on card 150 to eachcouple with a different read-head and each emulator may providedifferent track information to those different read-heads. Read-headdetectors may be utilized to detect when a read-head is over an emulatorsuch that an emulator is controlled by a processor to operate when aread-head detector detects the appropriate presence of a read-head. Indoing so, power may be saved. Additionally, the read-head detector maydetect how many read-heads are reading the card and, accordingly, onlycommunicate with the associated emulators. In doing so, additional powermay be conserved. Accordingly, an emulator may be utilized tocommunicate dynamic information to a magnetic stripe reader. Suchdynamic information may include, for example, dynamic payment cardinformation that changes based on time.

A static magnetic stripe may be provided to transmit data for one ormore tracks to a magnetic strip reader where dynamic information is notdesired. Card 150, for example, may include static magnetic track 153and static magnetic track 152. Information on static magnetic tracks 152and 153 may be encoded via a magnetic stripe encoder. Emulator 151 maybe included such that dynamic information may be communicated to amagnetic stripe reader, for example, without a magnetic stripe via anelectromagnetic signal transmitted directly from emulator 151 to aread-head of a magnetic stripe reader. Any combination of emulators andstatic magnetic tracks may be utilized for a card or device (e.g., twomagnetic emulators without any magnetic stripes).

One or more batteries, such as flexible lithium polymer batteries, maybe utilized to form card 100. Such batteries may be electrically coupledin a serial combination to provide a source of power to the variouscomponents of card 100. Alternatively, separate batteries may providepower to different components of card 100. For example, a battery mayprovide power to a processor and/or display of card 100, while anotherbattery provides a source of energy to one or more magnetic emulators ofcard 100. In doing so, for example, a processor may operate even afterthe battery that supplies power to an emulator completely discharges.Accordingly, the processor may provide information to another componentof card 100. For example, the processor may display information on adisplay to indicate to a user that the magnetic emulator is not longeroperational due to power exhaustion. Batteries may be, for example,rechargeable and contacts, or other devices, may be provided on card 100such that the battery may be recharged.

Buttons (e.g., buttons 130-134) may be provided on a card. Such buttonsmay allow a user to manually provide information to a card. For example,a user may be provided with a personal identification code (e.g., a PIN)and such a personal identification code may be required to be manuallyinputted into a card using the buttons in order for the card to operatein a particular manner. For example, the use of a magnetic emulator orthe use of a display may require a personal identification code.

By dynamically changing a portion of a user's credit card number, forexample, credit card fraud is minimized. By allowing the dynamicinformation to displayed visually to a user, and changed magnetically ona card, user behavior change is minimized (with respect to a credit cardwith completely static information). By requiring the use of a personalidentification code, the fraud associated with lost or stolen creditcards is minimized. Fraud associated with theft/loss is minimized asthird party users do not know the personal identification code needed tooperate particular aspects of a credit card with dynamic information.

FIG. 2 shows card 200. Card 200 may include, for example, staticmagnetic stripe track 203, static magnetic stripe track 201, andmagnetic emulator 202 sandwiched between read-head detectors 204 and205. A read-head detector may, for example, be provided as a circuitthat detects, for example, changes in capacitance or mechanical couplingto a conductive material. Processor 220 may be provided to, for example,receive information from read-head detectors 204 and 205 and controlemulator 202. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that processor220 may cause a current to flow through a coil of emulator 202 in adifferent direction to produce different electromagnetic fields. Thetransitions between the different electromagnetic fields may be sensedby a magnetic stripe reader as information. Accordingly, a magneticemulator may transmit data serially while a read-head is electricallycoupled with a magnetic reader.

RFID antenna 210 may be provided on card 200. Such an RFID antenna maybe operable to transmit information provided by processor 220. In doingso, for example, processor 220 may communicate with an RFID device usingRFID antenna 210 and may communicate with a magnetic stripe reader usingmagnetic emulator 202. Both RFID antenna 210 and magnetic emulator 202may be utilized to communicate payment card information (e.g., creditcard information) to a reader. Processor 240 may also be coupled todisplay 240 such that dynamic information can be displayed on display240. Button array 230 may also be coupled to processor 220 such that theoperation of card 200 may be controlled, at least in part, by manualinput received by button array 230. A smart-card chip may, for example,be included on card 200 in lieu of, or in addition to, RFID 210.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a static magnetic trackmay be a read-write track such that information may be written to amagnetic track from a magnetic stripe reader that includes a headoperable to magnetically encode data onto a magnetic track. Informationmay be written to a magnetic track as part of a payment process (e.g., acredit card or debit card transaction). Persons skilled in the art willappreciate that a static magnetic track may include a magnetic materialthat includes ferromagnetic materials that provide for flux-reversalssuch that a magnetic stripe reader can read the flux-reversals from thestatic magnetic track. Persons skilled in the art will also appreciatethat a magnetic emulator may communicate information that remains thesame from payment card transaction to payment card transaction (e.g.,static information) as well as information that changes betweentransactions (e.g., dynamic information).

A card may include magnetic emulators without, for example, including astatic magnetic track. Read-head detectors may also be provided. Personsskilled in the art will appreciate that a magnetic reader may includethe ability to read two tracks of information (e.g., may include atleast two read-heads). All of the information needed to perform afinancial transaction (e.g., a credit/debit card transaction) may beincluded on two magnetic tracks. Alternatively, all of the informationneeded to perform a financial transaction (e.g., a gift cardtransaction) may be included on one magnetic track. Accordingly,particular cards, or other devices, may include the ability, forexample, to only transmit data associated with the tracks that areneeded to complete a particular financial transaction. Persons skilledin the art will appreciate that for systems with three tracks ofinformation, the bottom two tracks may be utilized for credit cardinformation. Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that asecure credit card transaction may be provided by only changing, forexample, one of two magnetic tracks utilized in a credit cardtransaction (for those transactions that utilize two tracks).Accordingly, one track may be a static magnetic track constructed from amagnetic material and the other track may be provided as a magneticemulator. Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that numerousadditional fields of data may be provided on a magnetic track inaddition to a credit card number (or a security code). Dynamicinformation may be provided in such additional fields in order tocomplete a particular financial transaction. For example, suchadditional dynamic information may be numbers (or characters), encryptedwith time and synced to software, at a validating server, operable tovalidate the encrypted number for a particular period of time.

Card 250 includes emulator 251 that includes a coil operable tocommunicate data serially to a magnetic stripe reader. Similarly, forexample, emulator 251 may receive information for a magnetic stripeencoder. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a coil may runacross the length of a card such that a read-head moves along the lengthof the coil and can receive information transmitted serially from thecoil. The coil may extend into multiple tracks such that multipleread-heads receive information from the coil. Track information can besent serially (e.g., track 1 information followed by track 2information). Multiple coils may be driven separately and placed indifferent zones such that a single read-head moves from coil-to-coil(e.g., zone-to-zone) and power is conserves as only coils in aparticular zone (or zones) may be utilized to communicate informationany particular time. Separate coils may be utilized for separate tracks.Materials may be placed in the interior of each coil to assist withmanipulating the electromagnetic field produced by the coils. Materialmay be placed above or below a coil to further manipulate theelectromagnetic field produced by the coil. Switching circuitry 252 mayinclude, for example, one or more transistors that may be utilized tocontrol the direction of current via emulator 251 (e.g., the polarity ofvoltage(s) across a drive resistor). For example, a coil may be utilizedto transmit a string of information to a particular read-head. Differentcoils may transmit information at different speeds (or at the samespeed). Different coils may transmit different amounts of information.For example, three coils may be provided. The coil closest to the bottomof the long-end of a card may transmit at least 79 characters. The coilnext closest to the bottom of the long-end of a card may transmit atleast 40 characters of information. The coil next closest to the bottomof the long-end of the card may transmit at least 107 characters. One ormore coils may have different character sets (e.g., a 6-bit characterset or a 7-bit character set). The last bit in a character may include,for example, a parity bit. Additional synching information may betransmitted before and after the data information to assist withsynching a magnetic stripe reader. For example, a string of zeros may becommunicated before and after communicating primary data. Characters maybe included in the data information for other purposes such as an LRCcharacter.

FIG. 3 shows fabrication process 300, in which layer 310, 320, and 330are attached together. Layer 310 may include a set of coil segments thatare coupled to a set of coil segments on layer 330 to form a coil. Layer320 may include material 354 to assist in manipulating theelectromagnetic field generated by the coil. Vias may be placed on layer320 such that the coil segments from layer 310 may be coupled to thecoil segments from layer 330. Layers may be, for example, layers of aflexible or rigid material such as an FR4 epoxy dielectric. Coil 390 maybe formed from such a process that may include top view 391 andcross-sectional view 392.

FIG. 4 shows environment 400 that may include magnetic stripe reader410, read-head housing 440, card 420, and magnetic emulator 430.Read-head housing 440 may include any number of read-head's such as, forexample, one, two, or three read-heads. Each read-head may independentlyreceive magnetic fields from magnetic emulator 430 (or a magneticstripe, such as a magnetic stripe encoded on-card by card 420). Emulator430 may be positioned to be adjacent to any one or more read-heads ofread-head housing 440 or may be positioned to communicate information toany one or more read-heads of read-head housing 440. Persons skilled inthe art will appreciate that emulators with longer lengths may belocated within the proximity of one or more read-heads for a longerduration of time when a card is swiped. In doing so, for example, moreinformation may be transmitted from an emulator to a read-head when acard is being swiped.

FIG. 5 includes environment 500 that may include cards 520 and 530 aswell as magnetic stripe reader 510. Read-head housing 511 may beincluded on a wall of a trough of magnetic stripe reader 510. The troughmay be sized to accept cards (e.g., credit cards).

Card 520 may include emulator 521. Emulator 521 may provideelectromagnetic field 591 that may transmit through a portion of thehousing of magnetic stripe reader 510 (e.g., through a wall of a troughto get to read-head housing 511). Accordingly, card 520 may be locatedoutside of a reader—yet still be operable to communicate information toa magnetic stripe reader. A reader may be provided with an outer wall,for example, with a thickness of a quarter of an inch or more. Emulator521 can provide electromagnetic field 591 over a distance of, forexample, a quarter of an inch or more.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that card 520 may be coupledto a device via a permanent or removable cable. Such a device mayprovide power to card 520 as well as control information—such as controlinformation for emulator 530. An external source of power may beutilized, for example, to provide a larger amount of electrical energyto emulator 521 than from a source of power located within card 520.Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a car having an internalbattery may still be able to receive a cable from a device having itsown source of electrical energy.

Card 530 may be provided with emulator 531 and may electrically couplewith a read-head of magnetic stripe reader 510. Any number of emulatorsmay be provided in card 530 in any number of orientations such that theappropriate electromagnetic field may couple with a read head ofread-head housing 511 regardless of the orientation of card 720 withrespect to read-head 511. More particularly, for example, additionalread-head housings may be provided in magnetic stripe reader 510 atdifferent locations about the reader to electrically couple with aemulators in a number of different configurations. A sticker and/orguide-structures may be provided on a magnetic stripe reader to, forexample, direct a user on how to position his/her card (or other device)for contactless transmission of data (e.g., credit card data) to aread-head housing without using the trough that includes that read-headhousing.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a magnetic stripe readermay include a trough that includes two (or more) read-head housings 511located in approximately the same vertical position on a card-swipingtrough, but at different horizontal locations on opposite walls of thetrough. In doing so, for example, a magnetic stripe may be readregardless of the direction that a card having the magnetic stripe isfacing when the card is swiped. Magnetic emulator 521 may, for example,communicate magnetic fields outside both the front and read surfaces ofa card. Accordingly, a single emulator 521 may, for example, couple witha single read-head regardless of the direction the card was facing whenswiped. In doing so, for example, the costs of readers may be reduced asonly a single read-head may be need to receive information regardless ofthe direction a card is facing when swiped. Accordingly, magneticreaders do not need stickers and/or indicia to show a user the correctorientation to swipe a card through a magnetic stripe reader. An adaptermay be provided that coupled directly to a read-head that allows adevice not operable to fit in a trough to electrically couple with aread-head.

An emulator may be positioned about a surface of a card (or otherdevice), beneath a surface of a device, or centered within a card. Theorientation of a magnetic emulator in a card may provide differentmagnetic fields (e.g., different strength's of magnetic fields) outsidedifferent surfaces of a card. Persons skilled in the art will appreciatethat a magnetic emulator may be printed via PCB printing. A card mayinclude multiple flexible PCB layers and may be laminated to form a cardusing, for example, a hot and/or cold lamination. Portions of anelectronic ink display may also be fabricated on a layer during a PCBprinting process.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a number does not needto, for example, change with time. Information can change, for example,based on manual input (e.g., a button press or combination of buttonpresses). Additionally, a credit card number may be a static displaynumber and may be wholly or partially displayed by a display. Such astatic credit card number may result in the reduction of fraud if, forexample, a personal identification code is required to be entered on amanual input entry system to activate the display. Additionally, fraudassociated with card cloning may be minimized with the use of a magneticemulator activated by the correct entry on a manual input entry system.

Person skilled in the art will also appreciate that a card may be clonedby a thief, for example, when the thief puts a illegitimate credit cardreader before a legitimate credit card reader and disguising theillegitimate credit card reader. Thus, a read-head detector may detect aread-head housing and then, if a second read-head housing is detected onthe same side of the credit card, the reader may transmit information tothe second read-head that signifies that two read-head housings weredetected. In doing so, for example, a bank, or the police, may benotified of the possibility of the presence of a disguised cloningdevice. The information representative of multiple read-heads may beincluded with information that would allow a credit card number to bevalidated. As such, a server may keep track of the number of read-headhousings at each reader and, if more read-head housings are detectedthan expected, the server may contact an administrator (or the police).The server may also cause the credit card transaction to process or mayreject the credit card transaction. If the number of read-head housings(or read-heads) is the number expected by the server, the server canvalidate the payment transaction.

A payment system using dynamic numbers may, for example, be operablewith numbers that are stored outside of the period in which thosenumbers would otherwise be valid. A server may be included, for example,that accepts a dynamic credit card number, information representative ofa past credit card number, and the merchant that is requesting payment.The server may register that merchant for that saved number. The numbermay be decrypted (or otherwise validated) for that past period of time.Accordingly, the credit card transaction may be validated. Additionally,the merchant identification information may be linked to the storeddynamic credit card number for that past period of time. If the serverreceives a transaction from a different merchant with that same dynamiccredit card number for that same period of time, the server may rejectthe transaction. In doing so, a merchant may be protected from havingcredit card numbers stolen from its various storage devices. If a thiefsteals a number from a merchant's server that is associated with a pastperiod of time, that number cannot be used, for example, anywhere else.Furthermore, such a topology may, for example, allow merchants toprovide a one-click shopping, periodic billing, or any other type offeature that may utilize dynamic numbers that are stored and usedoutside of the period in which the dynamic numbers were generated.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that different emulators maybe controlled by different switching circuitry (e.g., differenttransistors).

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that multiple buttons may becoupled together to form a single-bit bus. If any button is pressed, thebus may change states and signal to the processor to utilize differentports to determine what button was pressed. In this manner, buttons maybe coupled to non-triggerable ports of a processor. Each button (or asubset of buttons) may be coupled to one or more triggerable ports of aprocessor. A port on a microprocessor may be utilized to drive anemulator in addition to, for example, receiving information from abutton. For example, once an appropriate personal identification code isreceived by a processor, the processor may utilize one or more portsthat receive information from one or more buttons to drive an emulator(e.g., for a period of time). Alternatively, for example, a magneticemulator may be coupled to its own triggerable or non-triggerableprocessor port. A card may also include a voltage regulator to, forexample, regulate power received from an internal or external source ofpower.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that any type of device maybe utilized to provide dynamic magnetic information on a card to amagnetic stripe reader. As discussed above, a magnetic encoder may beprovided that can change information on a magnetic medium where thechanged information can be detected by a magnetic stripe reader.

FIG. 6 includes topology 600 that may be utilized to communicateinformation to a read-head. Topology 600 may include magnetic emulators610, 620, 630, 640, 650, 660, 670, and 680. Each of these magneticemulators may be provided on a different layer and aligned such that theprimary paths are seen, from the perspective of a read-head as one setof paths. The return paths may be aligned to minimize the amount of timea read-head is located above the return paths of the magnetic emulators.The magnetic emulators may be coupled in series or operatedindependently. Additional layers may be included to include additionalrouting between the magnetic emulators. A magnetic emulator may be, forexample, a flat coil placed on a single layer of material. Current maybe provided through a magnetic emulator such that the magnetic emulatorgenerates an electromagnetic signal. A primary path of a coil mayinclude a dense section of coil segments where current runs throughthose coil segments in the same direction. Accordingly, theelectromagnetic field is intensified in active region compared to thearea of the coil with coil segments that are widely spaced or notconfigured in an orientation where the magnetic fields from these coilsegments can be read. Accordingly, a current may be placed through thecoil such that a magnetic stripe reader is operable to receiveinformation from active region 651 but not the region outside activeregion 651. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that thedirection of current through magnetic circuit 650 may be changed andcontrolled in a pattern that is representative of magnetic stripe data.Particularly, a processor may, for example, transmit information througha coil by changing the direction of the electromagnetic field generatedfrom emulator circuit at particular times. A change in the frequency offield reversals may be representative of, for example, a particular bitof information (e.g., “1” or “0”). Magnetic emulation circuit 650 mayinclude a dense active region and a less dense return paths. A magneticemulation circuit may include return paths that also can transmitinformation to a read-head, but that provides an electromagnetic fieldin an opposite direction to that of a primary path. Accordingly,read-head sensors may be placed, for example, such that no current isprovided through a magnetic emulator while a read-head is over a returnpath, but the emulator is utilized to communicate information when theread-head (or read-heads are located over the primary path).Additionally, a processor may change how an emulator is controlled inorder to accommodate the different electromagnetic fields produced bythe two regions such that a portion of a set of data can be transmittedby a return path and a portion of the set of data can be transmitted bya primary path. If zones, for example, are implemented, the return pathmay be utilized to communicate a portion of information when that zoneassociated with the return path is utilized and primary paths may beutilized to communicate another portion of information the zoneassociated with the primary path is activated. Accordingly, return pathsmay be staggered in order to increase their total visibility to aread-head. Magnetic emulators 610, 620, 630, 640, 650, 660, 670, 680,and 680 may be sized to fit, for example, within the footprint of atrack of data for a payment card. The primary paths of these magneticemulators may be staggered such that, from above, a continuous set ofprimary path segments is seen. Accordingly, the emulators may becontrolled in the same way such that, for example, a continuouselectromagnetic field is produced and can be controlled. Accordingly,data can be communicated serially through this continuouselectromagnetic field to a magnetic stripe reader. An instance oftopology 600 may, for example, be provided for each track of informationon a magnetic card. Different magnetic emulator topologies may beutilized for different tracks. Different magnetic emulators in amagnetic emulator topology may be provided different amounts of currentsuch that emulators at different depths can provide a sufficientelectromagnetic field at the surface of topology 600.

FIG. 7 shows topology 700 where the primary paths of multiple emulatorsare provided on a layer of material and the return paths for the coilsthat are included in those emulators are provided on different layers.Accordingly, for example, each emulator may be provided with the sameamount of current to produce a sufficient electromagnetic field. Suchcoils may be, for example, flat coils that are bent onto multiple layers(e.g., utilizing vias).

Topology 700 may include coil 711 with two portions of return paths andone portion of primary paths that may be, for example, visualized asreturn portion 712, primary portion 713, and return portion 714. Theprimary portion may be viewed from an eagle-eye perspective as portion715. Multiple emulator design 730 is included that may include multipleemulators with primary paths located adjacent to one another to providea continuous electromagnetic field. The emulators may be controlledindependently such that different emulators are utilized to communicateinformation at different times. Accordingly, emulators may be utilizedfrom left-to-right as a reader passes over the emulators fromleft-to-right. For example, read-head detector 761 of circuit 750 maydetect the presence of a read-head (e.g., a housing that stores aread-head) and may signal the processor to communicate with emulators751 and 752. When read-head detector 762 detects the presence of theread-head, read-head detector 762 may signal the processor tocommunicate with emulators 752, 754, and 755. Read-head detectors 761and 762 may be, for example, contacts coupled to a capacitive sensingcircuit or different capacitive sensing circuits.

FIG. 8 shows topology 800 that may include, for example, zones 810, 820,830, 840, 850, and 860. Topology 800 may be a cross-sectionalperspective of a multiple layer card. Primary paths 891 and 892 may, forexample, be located in zone 810 and primary paths 892, 893, and 894 maybe located in zone 820. Primary path 892 may be utilized, for example,to produce a transitional electromagnetic field between zones 810 and820. Read-head detector 899, for example, may be utilized to signal theprocessor to change from operating zone 810 to operating zone 820 tocommunicate data. Primary portions may be divided into more than oneprimary portion and placed in different zones such that an emulator thatincludes a coil having two primary portion may cover more than one zoneas well as non-adjacent zones. Similarly, return paths portions may beutilized to communicate data and primary portions may not be utilized(e.g., using a zone-based control methodology).

FIG. 9 shows circuit 900 that may include primary paths on one layer,but that may place a different return path on different vertical layerssuch that the return paths are vertically stacked. In doing so, the areaof the return paths (as viewed by a read-head) may be minimized. In azone-based control topology, minimizing the read-head visibility to thereturn paths may, for example, allow for a layer margin of error whendetecting the location of a read-head. Circuit 900 may include returnpaths 910, 920, and 930.

FIG. 10 includes circuit 1000 that may include, for example, a returnportion that forms a triangle such that a return path includes twosegments that are angled from one another. Each segment may be at a 45degree angle from a path (e.g., a path it is vertically aligned with)and the two may be, for example, at a 90 degree angle from one another.One or more materials may be placed between the primary paths and thereturn paths either from the perspective of going into the page orspanning the length of the page (e.g., threading through the open loopcreated by the primary and return paths). Circuit 1000 may includereturn paths 1010, 1020, and 1030.

FIG. 11 includes circuit 1110 that may be, for example, a coil. Circuit1120 may be included that includes two angled return path segments thatare located in area 1222, which is outside track footprint 1121. Area1122 may correspond to an area, for example, that is outside of where aread-head (or read-head housing) passes.

FIG. 1200 shows coil 111 that may include interior material 1210.Multiple pieces of interior material 1210 may be provided inside of coil1211. Interior material 1210 may be, for example, a magnetic,ferromagnetic, and/or a ferromagnetic material. A powder may beutilized. An alloy may be utilized. An interior material may extendvarious distances outside of a coil. An interior material may end at thelast coil segment of a coil. Coil 1221 includes interior segment 1220.

A coil may be wrapped around interior materials of different shapes andsizes. A gap between a coil may be provided having various distances. Amaterial may be provided between the interior material and the coil suchthat the interior material does not, for example, short the coil. Aninterior material may be, for example, rectangular (e.g., material1230), square (e.g., material 1240), or cylindrical (e.g., material1250).

FIG. 13 shows card 1300 that may include, for example, processor 1320,display 1340, switching circuitry 1330, read-head detectors 1350 and1360, and coils 1370, 1380, and 1385. Coils 1370, 1380, and 1385 mayspan the length of a track and may communicate information serially.Coils 1370, 1380, and 1385 may be spaced and controlled such that theelectromagnetic field from one coil does not introduce interference in aread-head attempting to read information from another track (e.g., anadjacent track). An interior material may be provided to assist inmanipulating the profile of the electromagnetic field provided by acoil.

A read head detector may include a cluster of read-head detectors suchas cluster 1390. Cluster 1390 may include read-head detectors 1391-1399.Each read-head detector may be, for example, a capacitive sensor. Theread-head detectors may thus, for example, be conductive areas coupledto a capacitive sensing circuit. Cluster 1390 may be coupled to amulti-channel capacitive sensing circuit. Each of the contacts of acluster may be coupled to their own capacitive sensing circuit. Amicroprocessor may be utilized in capacitive sensing. Any type ofread-head detector may be utilized in cluster 1390. For example, aread-head detector may include a physical contact, proximity, optical,or other detector. A cluster may include multiple different types ofread-head detectors. Cluster 1390 may be utilized to discern, forexample, between different objects. For example, a processor maydetermine that a user swiped the card through a reader if, forexample, 1) only read-head detector 1396 detects an object; 2) afterread-head detector 1396 detects an object, only read-head detector 1395detects an object; and 3) after read-head detector 1395 detects anobject, only read-head detector 1394 detects an object. Accordingly,different detection profiles can be associated with readers such that ifother types of objects are detected, the processor can discern betweenthese objects and read-heads. Different profiles may be associated withdifferent readers (e.g., motorized, insertion-swipe, and user-swipe).Such different profiles may be utilized to better combat card cloningas, for example, a fake reader overlaid on top of a legitimate ATMmachine may have a different profile.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a magnetic emulationcircuit may act as a read-head detector as well as a magneticinformation transmitter. For example, a magnetic emulator may be drivenaccording to a process that includes a step in which a correct PersonalIdentification Code (e.g., a PIN) is determined to have been entered ona card. Accordingly, another step may activate, in which a coil isdriven such that its return paths act as a read-head detector. This maybe done in numerous ways. For example, the current providing anelectromagnetic field may undergo a phase-shift when a magnetic and/orconductive material is placed in the electromagnetic field. Accordingly,a phase-shift may be determined. When such a phase-shift is determined,a step may initiate and a magnetic emulation circuit may be driven tocommunicate data serially. Accordingly, some region(s) may be utilizedto detect a read-head and other region(s) 1220 may be utilized tocommunicate information to that read-head. Persons skilled in the artwill appreciate that a magnetic emulation circuit may not be suppliedcurrent until an appropriate Personal Identification Code (PIC) isentered into manual interfaces located on the card. Such a scheme, forexample, provides for power savings as well as prevents card cloning.Accordingly, a magnetic emulator may be driven into a read-head detectormode upon receiving an appropriate manual input and then into a datatransmission mode after determining the presence of a read-head.

FIG. 14 shows card 1400 that may include display 1440, processor 1420,display 1450, switching circuitry 1430, emulators 1470 and 1480, andread-head detector 1460. Read-head detector 1460 may be located suchthat emulators are located between read-head detector 1460 and an edgeof the card. Accordingly, for example, a read-head detector may betriggered when a read-head is in the middle of the card such that asingle read-head detector can be utilized. Data may be communicatedquickly such that all data is transmitted serially before a read-head(or read-heads) travel past emulators 470 and 480. Additionally, acapacitive sensing circuit may be coupled to detector 1460 withouthaving the interconnection fall within the path of a moving read-head.In doing so, capacitive changes in the interconnection due to aread-head moving over an interconnection may not mis-trigger acapacitive sensing circuit.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a user's payment cardnumber (e.g., credit card or debit card number) does not have to change.A display may hide this payment card number until an appropriateunlocking code is entered into buttons of the card. Similarly, amagnetic emulator may not be provided current until the proper unlockingcode is entered—thus keeping magnetic information private and notallowing undesirable readers to read a card. A security code may bedisplayed on the same or a different display. A button may be providedrepresentative of an online purchase (or a user may utilize buttons toinstruct the processor that an online purchase is desirable). For suchan online purchase, the credit card number and the security code may bedisplayed—but the magnetic emulator may not be activated. In doing so,the level of security of the card is increased. Furthermore, forexample, a button may be provided representative of in-store purchases(or a user may utilize buttons to instruct the processor that anin-store purchase is desirable). Accordingly, a processor may besignaled that an in-store purchase is desired. A different operation maybe associated with different types of purchases (e.g., online orin-store). Accordingly, for example, magnetic emulators may be activatedfor an in-store environment—but not the displays. Accordingly, forexample, a restaurant cashier may not be able to read the credit cardnumber from the card, but may still be able to swipe the card. If areader is down or a cashier requires reading particular information(e.g., a security code or credit card number information) then controlsmay be utilized to communicate this information. A record of the typesof transactions may be stored and may be communicated in discretionaryfields of data within a transmitted data track. Such record informationmay be utilized, for example, to further increase security and/orintroduce a variety of additional functionality.

Different types of cards may be provided on a card. For example, asecurity ID number and a credit card number may both be provided on thesame card. A button may be utilized to allow a user to provideinstruction to a processor such that the processor can display (e.g.,visually and/or magnetically) the desired information. For example, auser may determine to use one of a variety of payment accounts (e.g.,credit and/or debit) for a purchase. An entire payment number (e.g.,credit or debit) may be changed and/or hidden visually and/ormagnetically. A portion of a payment card number (e.g., credit or debit)may be changed and/or hidden visually and/or magnetically.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a display on the cardmay display a credit card number that does not change with time.Additionally, for example, a magnetic emulator (or multiple magneticemulators) may magnetically communicate financial data that does notchange with time. Such a card may reduce, for example, the effects ofphysical card theft and card cloning.

One or more light generation devices, such as a Light Emitting Diode(LED), may be provided as part of a card (or other device). Such an LEDmay produce light, for example, upon a manual input such as a buttonpress, the correct entry of a PIC such as a PIN, and/or the incorrectentry of a PIC. A light emitting device may be operable to producedifferent colors of light. For example, the incorrect entry of a PIC mayproduce a red light and the correct entry of a PIC may produce a greenlight. A PIC may take any form such as a numerical code or a code thatinclude alphabet letters and/or symbols. For example, a PIC may be“A-B-B-B-A” and an “A” button may be provided on a card in addition to a“B” button (as well as other buttons such as a “C,” “D,” and/or “E”buttons).

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that any numbers of a creditcard number may remain static and/or change either with time or basedoff a transaction (e.g., by sensing a read-head “swipe”). Additionally,any static and/or dynamic numbers may be displayed via a display orprinted on a card. For example, a middle 6 digits of a credit/debit cardnumber may be static and may be displayed on a display. Such a middle 6digits may be displayed, for example, upon the entry of a correct PIC.Similarly, a magnetic emulator may not communicate information until acorrect PIC has been entered by a user. Doing so may, for example,reduce fraud associated with card cloning. Additionally, a receipt maybe provided that includes masked credit card numbers except for the lastfew digits of credit card numbers. Accordingly, displaying a staticmiddle 6 digits of credit card numbers may allow for such a receipt tobe provided while still reducing credit card fraud from hiding numbersthat are not displayed on such a receipt. Any amount of numbers and/orcharacters may be displayed through a display. For example, nineteendigits may be displayed as part of a credit/debit numbers and thesenumbers may also be communicated through one or more magnetic emulationcircuits. The entry of particular PICs may provide different results.For example, a first PIC may only display a string of alphanumericcharacters. A second PIC may only activate a magnetic emulation circuitto transmit information including that string of alphanumeric characters(or a different string). A third PIC may activate a magnetic emulationcircuit and a display. A display and/or magnetic emulation circuit maybe turned OFF, for example, upon entry of an incorrect PIC and/or aftera period of time has passed since the entry of the PIC and/or after thedetection of a particular number of swipes by a read-head detector(e.g., one or two).

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a credit/debit cardnumber (or any other information) may remain static until an eventoccurs and then may become dynamic (e.g., change based on swipes and/ortime). For example, a particular PIC may change from a static to adynamic topology and/or a topology may be changed from static to dynamicafter a pre-determined period of time. Additionally a card and/or devicemay include a wireless receiver and a topology may be changed from astatic to a dynamic topology upon, for example, receiving an appropriatesignal from the wireless receiver. Accordingly, a validation process maychange at a validation server depending upon whether a card is utilizinga static and/or dynamic topology at any given time. Additionally, astatic credit/debit card number may be printed on the face of a card andinformation (e.g., a security code) may be displayed via a display andremain static over time (or with use) or be provided dynamically.

A card or other device (e.g., a mobile telephone) may accept apre-determined number of consecutive incorrect PICs before locking thecard for a period of time or until an appropriate secondary PIC isentered. Accordingly, a user may enter in an incorrect PIC a number oftimes and then, after a card becomes locked, call a support center for asecondary one-time use PIC. A card may cycle through unlocking PICsbased, for example, on time or the number of previous unlock attempts.

A website may be provided where a user enters in his/her credit cardnumber, pays a fee, and a new card is programmed and sent to the user.The new card may include a display to display a portion of the userscredit/debit card number in a static form upon entry of an appropriatePIC. Such a card may also include one or more magnetic emulationcircuits to transmit the information to a reader. Such a card may or maynot, for example, include a portion of a magnetic stripe. For example,three tracks of magnetic stripe data may be communicated via threedifferent emulation circuits, more than three different emulationcircuits, one emulation circuits (e.g., tracks communicated serially toall read-heads), or one or more tracks may be represented by magneticstripe(s) while one or more other tracks may be represented by amagnetic emulation circuit. A track of data may also be partiallyrepresented by a magnetic emulation circuit and partially represented bya magnetic stripe.

FIG. 15 shows card 1500 that may include, for example, one or more ICchips 1530 (e.g., EMV chips), RFID antennas 1520, processors 1540,displays 1550, dynamic magnetic communications devices 1510 (e.g.,magnetic encoders and/or magnetic emulators), batteries 1560, andbuttons 1551 and 1552. Additional circuitry 1598 may be provided whichmay be, for example, one or more oscillators or emulator drivingcircuits. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that button 1551may, for example, be utilized by a user to select one encryptionalgorithm for a number displayed on display 1550 while button 1552 maybe utilized by a user to select a different encryption algorithm.Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the components of card1500 may be provided on either surface of a card (e.g., a front or rearsurface of the card) or inside of a card. A logo (e.g., of a cardissuer) and logo may be provided on either surface of a card.

A button, such as button 1551, may be utilized, for example, to displaya number. Such a number may be, for example, encrypted from a securenumber based on time or use. For example, one-time use numbers (e.g., apayment number or code) may be retrieved from a list of numbers onmemory each time button 1551 is pressed and displayed on display 1550. Aprocessor may only go through each number once on a list. A registrationprocess may be provided in which a user may be requested to enter in asequence of numbers such that a remote server may validate the card andlearn where in a sequence of a list a card currently resides. Numbersmay be repeated on a list or may only occur once on a list. All of thenumbers available by the length of the number may be utilized by thelist or only a portion of the numbers available by the length of thenumber may be provided by the list. A secret number may be encrypted ona card and a verification server may also have knowledge of this secretnumber. Accordingly, the remote server may perform the same encryptionfunction as the card on the secret number and verify that the resultantencrypted number is the same as the resultant encrypted number on acard. Alternatively, for example, the remote server may decrypt thereceived encrypted number to determine the authenticity of the encryptednumber and validate an activity (e.g., validate a security accessrequest or a purchase transaction).

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate, for example, that a card mayinclude an IC chip (e.g., EMV chip), RFID, and a dynamic magneticcommunications device (e.g., a magnetic emulator or encoder). The sameinformation may be communicated through, for example, any number of suchdevices (e.g., a dynamic magnetic communications device, RFID, and anEMV chip). A central processor may cause each device to communicate theinformation (in the same format or a different format). Each componentmay have its own processor or driving circuitry. Such individualprocessors or driving circuitry may be coupled to a central processor.An EMV chip may be utilized, for example, to provide control signals toother devices (e.g., circuitry driving a display as well as a dynamicmagnetic communications device). Such an EMV chip may receive signalsprovided by one or more buttons to determine, for example, that aparticular button, or sequence of buttons, was pressed by a user.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a read-head housing mayinclude, for example, multiple read-heads. A read-head detector may,more generally, detect a read-head housing and, in doing so, detect aread-head.

FIG. 16 shows card 1600 that may include, for example, signature area1640 that may include a material operable to receive marks from a pen(e.g., a signature). Card 1600 may also include, for example, displays1620 and 1630. Display 1620 may, for example, display a payment numberwhile display 1930 displays a security code (e.g., for online purchaseauthentication). Display 1620 as well as display 1630 may be utilized onthe same side as, for example, dynamic magnetic communications device1610.

FIG. 17 shows personal electronic device 1700 which may be, for example,a portable telephonic device, portable media player, or any type ofelectronic device. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that thefunctionality of a card may be provided on a personal device anddisplayed through a graphical user interface. Personal electronic device1700 may include, for example, user inputs 1740 and display 1710.Virtual card 1720 may be displayed on display 1720. Display 1720 may bea touch-sensitive display such that, for example, virtual button 1230may be provided on virtual card 1720. Persons skilled in the art willappreciate that cards may be provided as virtual cards and a user mayinteract with such virtual cards in order to provide a variety offunctions. Personal electronic device 1700 may communicate to a cardreader such as, for example, an RFID reader.

A display may be bi-stable or non bi-stable. A bi-stable display mayconsume electrical energy to change the information displayed on thebi-stable display but may not consume electrical energy to maintain thedisplay of that information. A non bi-stable display may consumeelectrical energy to both change and maintain information on the nonbi-stable display. A display driving circuit may be provided, forexample, for a bi-stable display (or a non bi-stable display). Such adisplay driving circuit may step-up a supply voltage (e.g., 1-5 volts)to a larger voltage (e.g., 6-15 volts) such that a bi-stable display maychange displayed information. A controller (e.g., a processor) may beutilized to control such a display driving circuit. Persons skilled inthe art will appreciate that a display may be configured to displaynumerical data or alphanumerical data. A display may also be configuredto display other indicia (e.g., the image of a battery and its remaininglife).

A magnetic stripe reader may, for example, determine information on amagnetic stripe by detecting the frequency of changes in magnetic fields(e.g., flux transversals). A particular frequency of flux transversalsmay correlate to, for example, a particular information state (e.g., alogic “1” or a logic “0”). Accordingly, for example, a magnetic emulatormay change the direction of an electromagnetic field at particularfrequencies in order to communicate a different state of information(e.g., a logic “1” or a logic “0”).

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a magnetic emulator mayelectromagnetically communicate information serially by changing themagnitude of an electromagnetic field with respect to time. As such, forexample, a current in a single direction may be provided through amagnetic emulator in order for that magnetic emulator to generate anelectromagnetic field of a single direction and a particular magnitude.The current may then be removed from the magnetic emulator such that,for example, the electromagnetic field is removed. The creation of apresence of an electromagnetic field, and the removal of thatelectromagnetic field, may be utilized to communicate information to,for example, a magnetic stripe reader. A magnetic stripe reader may beconfigured to read, for example, the change in flux versus time and mayassociate an increase in an electromagnetic field (e.g., creation of afield) as one flux transversal and a decrease (e.g., removal of a field)as another transversal. In doing so, for example, driving circuitry (notshown) may be provided which, in turn, controls when current is providedto a magnetic emulator. The timing of magnetic flux transversals, asdetermined by a magnetic stripe reader, may be utilized by that readerto determine whether a logic one (“1”) or logic zero (“0”) wascommunicated. Accordingly, a driving circuit may change the frequency ofwhen current is supplied and removed from a magnetic emulator in orderto communicate a logic one (“1”) or a logic zero (“0”).

A driving circuit may, for example, change the direction of currentsupplied to a magnetic emulator to increase the amount of change in anelectromagnetic field magnitude for a period of time. In doing so, forexample, a magnetic stripe reader may more easily be able to discernoverall changes in an electromagnetic field and, as such, may moreeasily be able to discern information. As such, for example, a drivingcircuit may increase the magnitude of an electromagnetic field byproviding negative current, decrease the amount of negative currentuntil no current is provided and provide an increasing positive currentin order to provide a large swing in the magnitude of an electromagneticfield. Similarly, a driving circuit may switch from providing one amountof negative current (or positive current) to one amount of positivecurrent (or negative current).

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a string of a particularbit of data (e.g., a string of logic zeros “0s”) may be communicatedbefore as well as after information is communicated through a magneticemulator. A magnetic stripe reader may utilize such data, for example,to determine base timing information such that the magnetic stripereader has a timing reference that the reader can utilize to assist indetermining timing changes of perceived flux transversals. Accordingly,for example, a magnetic emulator may send data at different overallfrequencies and a magnetic stripe reader may be able to reconfigureitself to receive data at such overall frequencies. Information may beencoded using, for example, Frequency/Double Frequency (F2F) encodingsuch that magnetic stripe readers may perform, F2F decoding.

A processor may control one or more emulators by, for example,controlling the direction of the current supplied through one or moresegments of an emulator. By changing the direction of current through aregion, for example, the direction of an electromagnetic field may bechanged. Similarly, a processor may control one or more emulators by,for example, controlling the change in magnitude of current suppliedthrough one or more segments of an emulator. As such, for example, aprocessor may increase the magnitude of current as well as decrease themagnitude of current supplied through an emulator. A processor maycontrol the timing of such increases and decreases in current such thata magnetic emulator may, for example, communicate F2F encodedinformation.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a dynamic magneticcommunications device (e.g., a magnetic emulator or magnetic encoder)may be fabricated, either completely or partially, in silicon andprovided as a silicon-based chip. Other circuitry (e.g., drivingcircuitry) may also be fabricated on such a silicon-based chip. Aprocessor, such as a processor for controlling a magnetic communicationsdevice, may be, for example, a programmable processor having on-boardprogrammable non-volatile memory (e.g., FLASH memory), volatile memory(e.g., RAM), as well as a cache. Firmware as well as payment information(e.g., dynamic numbers) may be, for example, communicated from aprogramming device to a processor's on-board programmable non-volatilememory (e.g., a FLASH memory) such that a card may provide a variety offunctionalities. Such a processor may also have one or more power-savingoperating modes, in which each operating mode turns OFF a different setof circuitry to provide different levels of power consumption. One ormore power-savings modes may turn OFF, for example, one or more clockingcircuitry provided on a processor. An Application-Specific IntegratedCircuit (ASIC) may also be included in a card or other device toprovide, for example, processing, dynamic magnetic communications, aswell as driving capabilities.

Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that the presentinvention is not limited to only the embodiments described. Instead, thepresent invention more generally involves dynamic information. Personsskilled in the art will also appreciate that the apparatus of thepresent invention may be implemented in other ways then those describedherein. All such modifications are within the scope of the presentinvention, which is limited only by the claims that follow.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: a magnetic emulator including a coil, wherein said magnetic emulator is operable to electrically couple, and communicate data to, a read-head located on a magnetic stripe reader using said coil, said magnetic emulator is operable to detect the presence of said read-head using said coil before communicating said data to said read-head, wherein said coil is fabricated on multiple PCB layers, and a material is located in the interior of said coil.
 2. A card comprising: a display; a processor; and a coil having a first set of coil segments and a second set of coil segments, wherein said coil is utilized to transmit information to a magnetic stripe read-head when said magnetic stripe read-head is determined to be aligned with said first set of coil segments, current is provided through said coil when said read-head is determined to be aligned with said first set of coil segments, said coil is not utilized to transmit information to a magnetic stripe read-head when said magnetic stripe read-head is determined to be aligned with said second set of coil segments, and no current is provided through said coil when said read-head is determined to be aligned with said second set of coil segments.
 3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second magnetic emulator.
 4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a processor.
 5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a button.
 6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of buttons.
 7. The system of claim 1, further comprising an RFID.
 8. The system of claim 1, further comprising an IC chip.
 9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a display.
 10. The system of claim 1, further comprising an RFID and an IC chip.
 11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a display and an RFID.
 12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a battery.
 13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a battery, a plurality of buttons, an RFID, and an IC chip.
 14. The system of claim 1, further comprising a processor and a battery.
 15. The card of claim 2, further comprising a second coil.
 16. The card of claim 2, further comprising a button.
 17. The card of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of buttons.
 18. The card of claim 2, further comprising an RFID.
 19. The card of claim 2, further comprising an IC chip.
 20. The card of claim 2, further comprising a battery. 